Murderer on the run from police is caught in Waterloo

A convicted murderer who absconded from prison months ago has been caught by sharp-thinking council safety officers.

John James Reilly, 58, was serving a life sentence after slitting a man’s throat when he was freed on temporary licence from HMP Leyhill near Bristol in August and failed to return.

He was finally caught on Saturday in London when Lambeth council officers were alerted that he had visited a Waterloo day centre.

Lambeth’s Area Crime Reduction manager, Neil Haggertay, issued an urgent alert to police and community safety teams across South London and Reilly was quickly spotted and arrested by police.

Cllr Jane Edbrooke, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “This is a fine example of the vigilance and speed of thought from our community safety officers.

“This man had been wanted for months, but as soon as he was flagged up on our system the game was up. All the organisations involved deserve credit, from the Day Centre manager who alerted us, to our officers who acted quickly and the police, outreach and council teams who responded.

“It just shows that there are effective systems in place to keep our streets safe.”

Roy Smith, Chief Inspector and Head of Neighbourhood Policing in Lambeth, said: “This is an excellent example of partnership working and demonstrates real improvements to the sharing of intelligence between the MPS and partner agencies.

“All those involved should be proud of their actions which have helped keep the public safe.”

Reilly is originally from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, and was serving a life sentence for a murder. He also had a previous conviction for kidnapping.

He was released on temporary licence from HMP Leyhill on August 26 this year to report to premises in Cumbria three days later, but failed to turn up.